EIT Food on making our food systems future proof
Dutch Design Week is almost upon us and in times like these, collaboration is more important than ever. The Embassies come together at this year’s DDW to investigate how we can use the power of design to tackle societal challenges. Such as, how do we feed all 7 billion people on Earth in a sustainable way? Through open coalitions, the Embassies work together with partners and designers for the future. One of these companies being EIT Food. We spoke with Marieke van Schoonhoven of EIT Food to discuss why it is crucial for different organizations to join incentives such as the Embassy of Food.
EIT Food
EIT Food is the world’s largest and most dynamic food innovation community. They work on building a future-fit food system that produces healthy and sustainable food for all. Weather it is unlocking innovation potential in businesses and universities or creating and scaling agrifood startups to bring new technologies and products to market. Supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, they invest in projects, organizations and individuals that share goals for a healthy and sustainable food systems. So of course, a natural fit with the Embassy of Food.
Inclusive system innovation
So, what does our future food look like? The Embassy of Food has worked together with EIT Food in the creation process of the Supermarket 2050 exhibition at DDW, by both providing active feedback as well as content for the exhibition. Van Schoonhoven states, like the Embassy of Food, ‘EIT Food connects stakeholders across the food system to drive change. We focus on inclusive systems innovation and we think food designers are important in driving a positive impact’. A food designer’s ability to bring an outsider’s perspective on the status of our current food systems is something very valuable. As is their ability to question the system with curiosity and critical questions and thinking outside the box about possible solutions for the future.
Presenting and alternative future
Making our food systems future proof is not an easy task. For Van Schoonhoven ‘an exhibition like the Supermarket 2050 provides a space to think, dream and imagine how the world might change. Creating an alternative future, in collaboration with businesses, organizations and governments with their influences on the food system, could enable some of these ideas to be transferred into practice’. The concepts the designers come up with are thought-provoking and engaging. In a creative, attractive way, the Supermarket 2050 touches upon pressing themes like personal data, the role of AI and food innovations like cultured meat.
EIT Food presents documentary series What we Eat
During DDW22 EIT Food is premiering the first episode of their FoodUnfolded® docuseries What We Eat, followed by a dialogue between the renowned BBC food journalist and author Dan Saladino, journalist and documentary maker Silvia Lazzaris and the public. You can find the invite here.